‘Heartbreaking time for Iranians’: Activist condemns Iran crackdown

Iranian Protests & International Response: A Discussion with Iranian Australian Patriots Association

Key Concepts:

• Iranian Protests (2022-Present): Ongoing demonstrations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
• Islamic Republic Regime: The current political system in Iran, characterized as “barbaric” and “brutal” by the interviewees.
• Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi: The heir to the former Iranian throne, seen as a symbol of hope for a democratic Iran.
• Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces): Iraqi Shia militias, allegedly deployed by the Iranian regime to suppress protests.
• Foreign Interference (Military): The call for intervention, specifically from the US, to halt the regime’s actions.
• Double Standard/Selective Activism: The perceived disparity in international support for the Palestinian cause versus the Iranian protest movement.
• Genocide: The characterization of the regime’s actions as a “real genocide” occurring in silence.

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1. Current Situation in Iran & Personal Impact

The discussion begins with the recent closure and subsequent reopening of Iranian airspace due to fears of a strike, potentially from the US. US officials have begun withdrawing personnel from bases in the Middle East in response to threats from the Iranian regime. Mani T Gazade and Minu Tusi, co-founders of the Iranian Australian Patriots Association, share their personal anxieties regarding family members in Iran. Minu Tusi recounts recent contact with her sisters who were actively participating in massive protests, sending footage of large crowds chanting against the Islamic regime and calling for the return of the crown prince. She has been unable to re-establish contact since Wednesday night, attributing this to internet and electricity shutdowns implemented by the regime to suppress dissent and “kill people in the silence.” These shutdowns are a deliberate tactic to obscure the regime’s actions.

2. Scale of Repression & Calls for International Action

The interviewees report estimates of up to 12,000 protesters killed by the regime, although official figures are significantly lower (at least a couple of thousand). Mani T Gazade describes the situation as potentially a “crime against humanity,” emphasizing the desperation of Iranians both inside and outside the country for international support. He details the regime’s use of force, including machine guns and imported militias like Hashd al-Shaabi from Iraq, equipped with sniper rifles, to target and kill innocent protesters. The protests are being led under the command of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who is viewed as the key to establishing democracy and freedom in Iran. Gazade stresses the need for the world to amplify the voices of Iranians and provide support through media, human rights organizations, and journalists.

3. Advocacy for US Intervention

A direct appeal is made for US intervention. Mani T Gazade explicitly states, “Yes. Yes. Yes, definitely,” when asked if they would like to see the US strike Iran. He argues that only a superpower with significant capabilities in the region can effectively deter the regime, stating that the only language the regime understands is “military.” He references Donald Trump’s approach as demonstrating strength that the regime respects. The interviewees recently held protests outside the US consulate and plan further demonstrations, believing that a superpower is the only entity capable of stopping the regime.

4. Perceived Disparity in International Support: Iran vs. Palestine

Minu Tusi expresses deep frustration and disappointment with the perceived lack of support for the Iranian protest movement compared to the widespread support for the Palestinian cause. She argues that a “real genocide” is happening in Iran, with people being killed “in the dark in the silence,” yet it receives minimal attention. She questions the absence of support from leftist groups, universities, and political figures who actively campaign for Palestinian rights. She asks, “Where are these support people? Where are the lefties? Where are the university?”

5. Critique of Activist Silence & Political Motivations

Tusi points to the large pro-Palestinian march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge (90,000+ participants) as a contrast to the lack of similar mobilization for Iran. She criticizes the presence of figures like Bob Carr, Julian Assange, and Senator Mehreen Faruqi alongside images of Iranian dictator Ali Khamenei at these protests. Mani Gazade suggests that support for Palestinian causes is driven by political calculations – the potential for votes from certain demographics – while support for Iranians doesn’t offer the same political advantage. He accuses some political figures, specifically mentioning Green Senators David Shoebridge and Mehreen Faruqi, of implicitly devaluing Iranian lives, stating, “Iranians are not human. Only Gazan people are humans.” He accuses them of being “blind and deaf” to the crimes committed by the regime whose image they were carrying.

6. Analysis of Left-Wing Alignment with Radical Islam

The interviewer observes a “weird and incongruent relationship between the left and the hard left and radical Islam” that is not being addressed, contributing to the neglect of causes like the Iranian protests.

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Data & Statistics:

• Estimated Protester Deaths: Up to 12,000 (reported by interviewees), versus lower official figures.
• Protest Size (Sydney Harbour Bridge): Over 90,000 participants in a pro-Palestinian march.

Notable Quotes:

• Minu Tusi: “The real genocide is happen now in Iran. Because the brutal regime in Iran, they killing the people in the dark in the silence.”
• Mani T Gazade: “Iranian people at the moment because they started this revolution with our with the command of our crown princes of Pahlavi…the only hope of the Iranian people to be establish a democracy and freedom in Iran.”
• Mani T Gazade: “The only language they can understand is military.”
• Mani T Gazade: “Iranians are not human. Only Gazan people are humans.”

Conclusion:

The interview powerfully conveys the urgency and desperation of the Iranian protest movement, highlighting the brutal repression faced by demonstrators and the perceived indifference of the international community. The interviewees advocate for strong international action, specifically US military intervention, to halt the regime’s violence and support the aspirations of the Iranian people for democracy and freedom. A central theme is the frustration over the perceived double standard in international activism, with the Iranian struggle overshadowed by the focus on the Palestinian cause. The discussion underscores the complex political dynamics at play and the need for greater awareness and support for the Iranian people’s fight for basic human rights.